U.S. Lauds Ukraine Election Amid Hopes for Easing Standoff

U.S. officials lauded Ukraine’s presidential elections as an “extraordinarily positive” step for the country and analysts said Russia’s conciliatory response could put a temporary hold on any escalation in U.S. sanctions against Moscow.

But longer term, analysts say the U.S. and its allies should expect additional efforts by the Kremlin to undermine a Westward-turn by Kiev as Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to keep the former Soviet satellite state within Moscow’s political orbit.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Moscow is willing to work with the newly elected government in Kiev. Preliminary results show nearly 60% of the voting public backed pro-West chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko.